Following an initial meeting on February 6th, Stone Puppet Festival organisers David Leech and Richard Jones will be seeking funding from Arts Council England (ACE) in order to stage the festival again this summer in Stone. But they also need your help…
ACE funding is partial so they are actively seeking other sources of funding too.
In addition, David and Richard will be calling on local people to volunteer in the run-up to and over the festival weekend, which this year is planned for the afternoon of Friday 22nd July and the weekend of the 23rd and 24th.
[box type=”shadow” align=”aligncenter” ]“Staging the festival is far too big a task for two people,” David explained, “Although we did pull it together last year, without any previous experience of staging a festival on this scale, Richard and I really do need people to help out this year and we have now identified the areas and projects that may be of interest to people, having reviewed what worked last year and what areas need attention to ensure everything runs smoothly.”[/box]
David will announce a meeting inviting anyone that wishes to help or support the festival activities, sometime in April, after they receive the decision from ACE.
This year, David has lined up 20 puppet theatre companies and individuals to present indoor and outdoor performances not only from around the UK but, subject to funding, he has puppeteers from Russia and Hungary wanting to come to Stone as well.
The proposed two-and-a-half days programme will feature a Grand Opening Parade and a whole variety of different styles of puppet theatre as well as a programme of workshops in local schools in the weeks leading up the festival which has been planned for the end of school summer term.
“We really hope local schools will participate, especially with making giant puppets for the Parade,” David said. “We have designs and plans for creating life-size dinosaurs and dragons. Staff and pupils from Yarlet school produced a magnificent Dragon and two life size school pupils for the parade last year which added greatly to the spirit of the festival.
“Although I have professional performers “waiting in the wings” eager to stage some wonderful, entertaining shows and take part in the parade, we are hoping that the local community will really get involved in a big way this year, not only schools, but also other local groups and not only young people either!
“We can arrange for professional puppeteers to assist and guide any group of people, whatever their age, to produce their own puppets and maybe even a performance too.
“When I was working with a performing Arts Academy in Malaga a few years ago, a whole group of retired people eagerly learned the art of marionette performance and successfully staged shows in the local shopping centres and in other venues too.”
[box type=”info” align=”aligncenter” ]David can always be contacted anytime, by email: david@pelhampuppets.uk.com and details about volunteering will soon be added to the website at www.stonepuppetfestival.co.uk and regular updates will be found on the Stone Puppet Festival Facebook page: www.facebook.com/stonepuppetfestival[/box]
